Tailored support for young people leaving detention centres, Elders assisting police to conduct cautions, and extra measures to help young people to get back into school, work or training will soon be rolled out, as part of a new grants scheme designed to tackle youth crime.
The $1.4 million Community Partnership Innovation Grants initiative will provide one-off grants for eight projects in eight locations to enable local communities to deliver locally designed solutions.
Minister for Youth Justice Leanne Linard said community organisations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations and universities were among the successful grant recipients that will work with young people to help them turn their back on crime.
“I’m delighted that we received 116 applications from around the state, as it clearly shows plenty of individuals and organisations want to be part of the solution,” Ms Linard said.
“They want to share their ideas, expertise, and connections. That’s something I wholeheartedly welcome because reducing anti-social behaviour and youth crime is a whole community effort.”
Ms Linard said the successful recipients would design and deliver projects in Cairns, Townsville, Toowoomba, Moreton Bay, Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan and the Gold Coast.
“We asked for proposals that could create lasting, meaningful changes by addressing the disadvantage typically experienced by teens in the youth justice system, and that’s exactly what we received,” she said.
“Organisations often need financial assistance to get new ideas off the ground, so I’m pleased we can provide that support.
“These additional initiatives will complement existing programs. By working together, we will enhance the safety of our communities.”
In a further investment in community safety, this year’s State Budget provided funds to expand the Community Partnership Innovation Grants in 2022–23.
A total of $3 million will be available to support additional initiatives given the strong interest in the program.
This will enable the government to partner with local communities on crime prevention projects focused on young people who are, or could become, repeat offenders.
The successful grant recipients for projects to be delivered in 2022–23 are:
- Brisbane – Elders Cautioning Program pilot – The program will divert young people at high risk of offending away from the youth justice system. It will be delivered by Griffith University in partnership with the Inala Elders Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation. Elders, or respected community members, will conduct cautions based on police referrals and will work closely with mental health practitioners to provide support for young people and their families. ($199,500)
- Cairns – Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation – Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation will provide overnight On Country Healing Camps that can be undertaken at very short notice and may be used by young people in the 72-hours after leaving detention when they are most vulnerable and at high risk of reoffending. The overnight camps will provide cultural activities and one-on-one support. ($150,000)
- Gold Coast – Life Without Barriers – Life Without Barriers will pilot the Youth Advocate Program, an evidence-informed intervention that has demonstrated successful outcomes overseas with young people at high risk of reoffending. It will be trialled in Queensland for the first time, with young people to receive 15 hours of weekly support from a Youth Advocate over six to nine months. ($226,500)
- Ipswich – Fearless Towards Success – Fearless Towards Success will deliver an intensive six-month post-release program for young people leaving youth detention to help them reintegrate into the community. This will include giving young people training and employability skills. ($132,400)
- Logan – Village Connect – Wrap-around supports for young people and their families will be established through the KOKO Pasifika Youth Holistic Hub, making it the first culturally safe integrated services response for Pasifika young people. ($250,000)
- Moreton Bay – Disrupting the School to Prison Pipeline – The Disrupting the School to Prison Pipeline project will work with disengaged young First Nations people in the Moreton Bay Region to get them back into education, training or employment. It will be delivered by the Queensland University of Technology in partnership with the Mindle Bygul Aboriginal Corporation. ($170,000)
- Townsville – Deterring Drivers program – The Deterring Drivers program aims to prevent young people from stealing cars for ‘joyriding’. It will be led by the Australian Catholic University and be designed and implemented by researchers with expertise in criminology, policing, road safety and health. It will highlight the dangers while giving participants skills and introducing other activities as an alternative to driving. ($74,300)
- Toowoomba – CatholicCare Social Service – CHANGE (Community Helping Adolescents with New Growth and Endeavours) will provide wrap-around support for 12 to 17-year-olds at risk of becoming entrenched in the justice system. It will bring together five experienced local organisations, which will deliver early intervention programs focused on housing, mentoring, education, skill development, employment, sporting and cultural activities. ($246,000)
Information about the Community Innovation Partnership Grants can be found on the Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs website: https://www.cyjma.qld.gov.au/about-us/our-department/funding-grants-investment/community-partnership-innovation-grants
